Gyrotropy-induced symmetry breaking in RF-specific plasma wall interaction: Mechanisms and mitigation strategies
Abstract
Ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating is essential for creating plasma in next-generation fusion devices. ICRF antennas often produce localized wall erosion, reducing reliability, material survivability, and overall plasma performance. We show that the wave physics' gyrotropy is among the causes of toroidal and poloidal asymmetries in these erosion spots, and that this source of asymmetry can be compensated for either by controlling the poloidal phasing or by modifying the limiter shapes.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Magnetic confinement fusion research
Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
Gyrotron and Vacuum Electronics Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physics of Plasmas
- Publisher
- AIP Publishing
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN